Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-21

ddate, was there spending the heated term
with his family. Newspaper correspondents
by the score, wire-pullers, demagogues,
stump speakers, oflice-seekers, together
with thousands Of society people and tour
lists, literally poured into the town and filed
every available hotel, cottage and boarding
house So-called breakfasts, dinners, teas,
luncheons, picnics, balls, parties, receptions,
tennis and athletic tournaments, and what
not, were the order Of the day and occupied
each moment, from morn till night
Every body lived in tremendous rush OF
excitement and, although few persons re-
tired before the morning hours, no one
seemed to grow weary Of this continuous
whirl Of gayety.
Hundreds of beautiful women set the
place by the ears, and scores Of bellies were
always surrounded by crowds OF admirers.
Thus, when September arrived and the
giddy throng departed, the universal YER
dict was:
1.-THE gayest season on recordw
Those who remained paused in their head
long career, drew breath and pulled them
selves together to enjoy few weeks Of the
autumn's calm and gather strength for
winters dissipation.
Just as quiet was beginning to reign,
popular excitement was again aroused and
popular curiosity ran wild over tho sudden
and mysterious appearance Of young girl
whose beauty was Of the most brilliant type,
infinitely surprising that Of even the love-
lest belle of the summer.
'Who is she and whencel" was the ques-
ton asked on every side.
Not soul knew, for not a soul had seen
fa1 oh
was staying She always appeared on
horseback, accompanied by a groom, and
dashed down the roads, utterly oblivious Of
the open glances and loudly-uttered words
Of admiration that assailed her on every
side
Like meteor she broke upon tho sight,
md, like meteor, disappeared from view.
Nor was the public enabled to learn any
more about her, when it found that she was
at "Eld-Fields," Mr.. Porter's handsome
country-seat which had been closed for tho
two previous years, during tho owners abb
sence abroad. She absolutely refused TO
receive callers and spoke to no one.
The servants around the place either
knew nothing whatever with regard to
her, or else refused TO divulge what they
did know. They were unable to tell how
sho camo to Eld-Fields-"all we know lie,
when we walked up one morning, there she
was, horse and all, Just as If she'd been here
all her lifen They knew not when, or
where she was going; her name even flor
they called her "Madamoiselle'D nor, in
fact, any thing at all about her.
Mr.. Bee, whose establishment was head
quarters for all sorts Of articles and infor-
nation, declared that she was the largest
and best-paying customer he ever had,
which was saying great deal. Mr. Moses,
the florist, had no reason for closing his
conservatory Us long as she remained at
Bar Harbor. The most costly and elegant
flowers were sent down to Eld-Flelds at
least twice a day. From all sides came
such expressions as the following:
"She is very rich. Who is sheln
The invariable answer was: 81 don't know.
She's a mysterym
Forthwith she was dubbed The Mystery Of
Bar Hdrbor.
Had her astounding history been known
Bar Harbor would scarcely have been large
enough TO contain its excited citizens, anC
the reporters who would have rushed
thither from all parts of he country.
once made most solemn promise never
20 tell this tale TO any mortal being.
But something has only lately happened
which is quite as extraordinary rs any thing
related in these chaptors-something, too
which proves tho truth Of the old saying
that nothing is probable but the highly i'm.
probable. And this event, think-so, too
viii you, If you ever hear it 49, releases me
from my promise. And l now feel at liberty
30 tell tho public story whose incidents
actually occurred only very short time
ago In this prosaic, matter-Of-fact nine
tecnth century OF ours; and, yet, smacl
moro Of romance and presumptuous improb
ability than do most recorded adventures Of
the knight-errants in the middle ages.
Let me Begin
A young man was walking along a Quot
country road, his head bent down in deeI
thought.
Judging from the detected look upon his
countenanco and the occasional profound
sigh that he uttered the subject of his
meditation did not seem to be agreeable tc
him. In his hand he held a switch and, in q
half-hearted, listless way, unconsciously
struck at the stones lying in his path; or
knocked off the heads of flowers growing
by the roadside.
Ever and anon, the innate audacity Of the
man, his defiant yet careless nature, seemed
70 rise superior to the gloom occasioned by
his sad reflections. Giving some object an
energetic, almost vicious, cut with his
switch he would proudly toss back his head
md assume half devil-may-care manner;
sing, or whistle some jolly air; quicken his
pace and appear to force himself 10 an inter-
est in the charming landscape around him.
But, apparently, the same unpleasant
thoughts returned once more; look Of
despairing submission oyerspread his usu-
ally cheerful face, and, with a weary sigh,
he again resumed his slower pace and de.